I am seeing my doctor next week and will ask his opinion, but I would also like the opinions of real-world users.
This device is a mask that fits over your mouth and nose, and through the use of different filters constrains the amount of air/oxygen getting into your lungs, as if you were at a higher altitude. One that I have looked at (I don’t know if there are other companies that offer this) says theirs can simulate from 3000 ft to 18,000 ft.
My doctor has been concerned about my lung capacity. When I blow into that tube thing I should register around 5.5, but I only get to about 4 (these numbers are as best I can remember). I have asthma, but it is pretty well controlled with Montelukast daily and the very occasional use of an emergency inhaler. So he is wondering if I have some inflammation that we don’t know about; but he doesn’t seem very eager to find out either, having suggested no other tests.
If it is the case that my lung capacity is low not due to pathology but for some other lifestyle reason, it seems like this training mask might actually help. In fact I saw a guy in the gym today wearing one, but he was doing weights instead of cardio, which seemed unproductive to me. I do cardio 3 days a week, and weights 3 days a week. I do somewhat less cardio since I started doing weights, mostly due to lack of enough stamina to do both thoroughly.
So that’s my background, any medical or user opinions out there?
A quick look around found some studies that show it can increase diaphragm strength (which might help you) but does not affect VO2max.
The mask works by restricting airflow so you do have to work harder to draw a breath but altitude training works not in the workout phase but by living at altitude.
You’d have to wear the mask 24/7 to simulate living at altitude.
So is VO2max what my doctor is measuring by having me blow into a tube?
My problem may be improved by a stronger diaphragm - I have noticed lately when working with my personal trainer that sometimes an exercise can get me out of breath and it is very hard to get back to something like normal, and it feels like it is because I cannot take a deep enough breath. Possibly a stronger diaphragm could help that?
u do not differentiate the type of asthma-there are several-but generally
asthma decreases your ability to assimilate oxygen. the alveoli are impaired and corticosteroids temporarily increase the co2/o2 xchange but have long term consequences. as such you max o2 uptake is fixed and a mask which constrains airflow intake will force the lungs to work harder and willNOT increase your stamina see WebMD.com for more info
I do not take corticosteroids. Montelukast is a leukotriene receptor antagonist. I am not aware (nor does WebMD indicate, loath as I am to go there) that there are significantly different types of asthma, except possibly whether the primary cause is extrinsic or intrinsic.
running coach, apparently what my doctor is testing is not VO2max but rather peak expiratory flow rate. That is what I am interested in improving.